ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender refer to biology--the hormonal makeup of the body and its chromosomal makeup. It also acknowledges that many people do not fall into a binary of sex. However, gender and sex can influence the way symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is diagnosed in early childhood, typically before age 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in more than one setting to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and is a problem that affects both genders. However, women may have more difficulty to achieve the attention they require due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest differently for men.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, for instance. They also are more likely to be emotionally triggered and struggle to put things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate, which can lead to an absence of productivity at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and miss doctor's appointments.
In addition to these inherent differences, women's hormones can make their ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, and hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can affect their brain's functioning.
As a result, women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school, in their relationships, and at work. They may also have various comorbidities, such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
In these circumstances, it's critical for health professionals to recognize the many indications that females with ADHD often show. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnose and treat females with ADHD to recognize hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is particularly true when they interact with other people. This can cause to emotional dysregulation, which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It can also be linked to negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult romantic relationships which can lead to intimate partner violence, trouble with friends as well as a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
signs and symptoms of adhd in women of women can influence the way women with ADHD are treated. Because they are frequently viewed as more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they may be misinterpreted or dismissed as overly emotional. This can increase their frustration over being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and executing their intentions. This could make you want to eat more cake or make an inappropriate comment.
For those who suffer from ADHD medications can help to enhance their ability to manage their impulses. Stimulants such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine are also effective. Patients with ADHD might also benefit from a treatment called behavioral therapy, which can help them change their mental patterns and develop healthier methods of coping.
Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and practicing meditation can help control restlessness and impulsiveness in those with ADHD. It's also a great idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and share the information with their doctor to determine whether or not their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a common issue for people suffering from ADHD and can affect their professional and personal life. They may have difficulty to complete tasks and their efficiency may be diminished. They may also fail to meet deadlines or feel overwhelmed throughout the day.
Insanity can cause problems to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose things like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and isolated because of this. Friends and family may misunderstand their feelings. The disorder can become more severe during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles as hormones alter and symptoms increase.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal norms or to avoid being judged. This can result in self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. It can also be a reason for why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence when symptoms become more apparent.
As a result women suffering from untreated ADHD may have trouble with their work or school performance. This could affect their work, grades, or reputation. It could also cause issues in their personal lives, such as difficulties with romantic partners, or strained relationships with friends and family members.
Women with chronic disorganization can benefit from one-on-one help from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can teach women how to stay organized by creating lists and establishing reminders. A qualified mental health professional can also suggest medication and lifestyle changes that can help minimize ADHD symptoms. This can include eating small, frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine, which can cause adverse effects from stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a characteristic that can affect decision-making in a variety of areas of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured using various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and with the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, which is where people interpret ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It is also believed to be associated with anxiety about being wrong, which could be the reason why it is common for people suffering from adhd to have difficulty making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd that were interviewed, they described not being able to make decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding the job they wanted or stayed in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships, and health. They often waited for other people to decide or were unable to finish projects themselves, such as organizing childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms like the inability to focus and impulsivity, or getting started on projects was preventing them from completing.
They struggled to maintain friendships and had difficulty relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They described stress and anxiety, as well as a sleep deprivation and poor nutrition. They also felt stigmatized by the media and adults. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them improve their self-esteem because they were not blaming themselves. They also had access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that the women had many positive qualities but were struggling to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on different aspects of their lives. The women reported the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, problems maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Certain of the symptoms that are a part of ADHD are considered to be less socially acceptable for women and girls than they are for boys and men, so some women hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorder. full report may be able to internalize their ADHD and adopt coping strategies such as self-harming (cutting or burning). This can result in low self-esteem, which can cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the basis for better relationships and a positive outlook on life. People who lack a strong self-worth tend to look beyond themselves for validation, like careers, relationships as well as money and power. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication in the relationship, which could ultimately end it.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, women who have ADHD often struggle with the feeling that they don't have enough of the good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to "keep up" with other people. This can cause toxic workplaces as well as a negative self-image and an addiction to substance or food.
Despite these significant challenges However, the women who took part in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. The majority of them identify their ADHD as a blessing or a curse, based on whether they feel they have control over it. A few of them also point out personal strengths they believe are partly due to their ADHD such as the ability to be creative, high energy determination and the ability to be easily interested in new topics. They also discuss their unique challenges as part of a larger picture that encompasses family and cultural issues, as well as biological and gender differences.